Computer \Com*put"er\ (k[o^]m*p[=u]t"[~e]r), n.
   1. One who computes.

   2. (Computers) an electronic device for performing
      calculations automatically. It consists of a clock to
      provide voltage pulses to synchronize the operations of
      the devices within the computer, a central processing
      unit, where the arithmetical and logical operations are
      performed on data, a random-access memory, where the
      programs and data are stored for rapid access, devices to
      input data and output results, and various other
      peripheral devices of widely varied function, as well as
      circuitry to support the main operations.

   Note: This modern sense of computer comprises the
         stored-program computers, in which multiple steps in a
         calculation may be stored within the computer itself as
         instructions in a program, and are then executed by
         the computer without further intervention of the
         operator. Different types of computer are variously
         called analog computer, number cruncher,
         number-cruncher, digital computer, and pari-mutuel
         machine, totalizer, totaliser, totalizator,
         totalisator.

   Syn: data processor, electronic computer, information
        processing system.
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

   3. (Computers) same as digital computer.
      [PJC]